Your union attended the Department of Customer Service (DCS) Peak Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) on 11 February 2025.  The following matters were discussed:

General Update

Secretary Graeme Head advised that the Department has successfully shut down the merchant fee charging, as requested by the State Government, which was a complex process. DCS is participating in the Ombudsman’s investigation and has produced documents in relation to the fee charging.  He noted that the Federal Government has had the same problem and has created legislation to deal with it.

Reduction in SEB Roles

The State Government requires Departments to reach the target of a 15 per cent reduction in Senior Executive Band (SEB) roles by mid-2026.  The Secretary believes DCS is on track to reach this goal and may achieve it earlier.

Contingent, Temporary, Contractor and Consultant Labour

DCS has a staffing level of approximately 12,500. Contingent, contractor and consultant numbers are now reduced to 3 per cent of staff and temporary employee numbers are sitting at 8 per cent.  It is expected that these numbers will remain around this level for the foreseeable future.  The 8 per cent includes the temporary roles created in Service NSW to retain staff displaced as a result of the 3 waves of restructuring.

Mobility

120 people currently engaged in the mobility process.  70 per cent of those who have gone through mobility have been placed in roles with 43 per cent of those being internally placed in DCS.  PSA asked about staff living interstate going through mobility.  DCS advises that some staff have been successful in gaining roles in other agencies despite not living in NSW.  Those roles are likely to have been temporary but should give people more time to determine future employment.

For members living interstate and going through mobility, PSA reminds you that a Voluntary Redundancy payment does not have to be repaid if you gain employment in a government agency outside NSW.

Flexible Working Policy

PSA does not agree that DCS is not mandating return to the workplace.  We noted that there are areas of DCS, particularly Revenue NSW, where local managers have been telling staff to return 3 days a week starting at the end of February, despite the policy requiring all staff to have a flexible working agreement (negotiated with their manager) in place by the end of May 2025.  Not the end of February.  PSA raised member concerns, particularly in relation to flexibility as well as capacity and suitability of the office accommodation and access to office locations closer to home.

DCS advises that they will discuss at their next Executive Leadership Meeting this week and leaders will talk with local managers about timeframes.  It was agreed that current flexible working arrangements should remain in place until they expire or until May, whichever occurs first.

For members in Revenue, if your manager persists in requiring you to return to the workplace 3 days a week starting from 24 February and you don’t have an agreement in place, please contact or call 1800 772 679.  PSA will arrange to meet with Revenue to clarify the matter.

DCS now has a Hyper Care team in place to deal with individual issues (especially those involving living interstate).  If you are having issues with arranging a return to the workplace or with how the policy affects you if you’re living interstate, and you have not had success using the escalation process in the Flexible Working Policy, please contact member support on or 1800 772 679 and quote reference number 10001672.  PSA will engage with the process on your behalf.

Members Living Inter-State

PSA advised DCS that staff hired while living inter-state do not have the ability to move to NSW.  At present, DCS will not consider a Voluntary Redundancy as the roles are still required and is unwilling to pay compensation under the Transferred Employees Compensation Award for staff who may seek to move into NSW.  This view may change.  PSA will negotiate for members on a case-by-case basis going forward.

If you are living interstate and believe you have a contract that does not state that your headquarters is in NSW, please contact Member Support on or 1800 772 673 and quote reference number 10001672.

Workplace Adjustments in Terms of Returning to the Workplace

DCS advised that for some staff, the adjustments won’t affect the number of days staff attend the office, particularly if equipment has already been provided.  For those who have not already requested reasonable adjustments for medical conditions, please follow the process of submitting an agreement, then, if there are problems getting it approved, follow the escalation process.  If that fails, contact member support as per details above.

The next Joint Consultative Committee Meeting will occur in May 2025.  Members can raise matters of concern with local delegates who will bring them to the DCS Delegates’ Committee on their behalf.    The next meeting of the Delegates’ Committee will be held in April 2025.